ECOWAS Program on Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access (ECOWGEN)

The ECOWAS Programme on Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access (ECOW-GEN) is another flagship programme being implemented by ECREEE with the objective to meet the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) goals in West Africa.

Established against the background that energy access, or the lack of it, affects men and women differently, and that the energy needs of both men and women sometimes differ, ECOW-GEN aims to factor in these differing needs in the planning and execution of clean-energy related interventions in the region to ensure a universal access to energy services.

ECOW-GEN is a product of the training organized, in partnership with the ENERGIA International network, on ‘Gender and Sustainable Energy’, on 28 June 2012, in Dakar, Senegal. The expert-level training workshop, which was held back-to-back to the regional Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) Validation Workshop, served to promote awareness of gender issues and build capacity on mainstreaming gender into the existing and planned national RE & EE policies. In addition to this, the training workshop exposed the need to adopt a programmatic approach in mainstreaming gender in clean-energy development within the region.

Backed by the strong support of the ECOWAS Member States, the programme will execute its overall objective which is to contribute towards increased access to modern, affordable, and reliable energy services, energy security and environmental sustainability by tailoring national and regional policies, projects and programmes to the energy needs of men and women.

The strategy for achieving the programme's objectives will include:

building and strengthening capacities for gender mainstreaming in energy policies and projects

steering and supporting the development of gender-sensitive policies within the region

implementing gender-responsive investment and business promotion in sustainable energy development in the ECOWAS region

The activities under this programme will be implemented in close partnership with the Department of Human Development and Gender of the ECOWAS Commission, UNIDO, the ENERGIA International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy and other partners.